Sponsored by Reps. Landwehr, Mosier, et al. in the House, and Sen. Mary Pilcher Cook in the Senate, HCR5007 is a legislatively referred ballot measure that would enable Kansas voters to amend the Kansas Constitution to include the following: To preserve the freedom of Kansans to provide for their health care: “(1) A law or rule shall not compel, directly or indirectly, any person, employer or health care provider to participate in any health care system or purchase health insurance. (2) A person or employer may pay directly for lawful health care services and shall not be required to pay penalties or fines for paying directly for lawful health care services. A health care provider may accept direct payment for lawful health care services and shall not be required to pay penalties or fines nor prohibited from gaining state medical licensure, for accepting direct payment from a person or employer for lawful health care services…”

Sponsored by Sen. Pilcher Cook, SB306 updates Kansas’s 2006 Personal and Family Protection Act for concealed weapons carry. The bill eliminated the requirement for fingerprinting of applicants for renewal licenses and reduced the fee for a new license and renewal. A license will now remain valid for 90 days after a person is no longer an official resident of Kansas. The reform bill also makes it possible to have a concealed weapon on the state fairgrounds in Hutchinson and in any public or private parking lot or garage.

Highlights: Redefines “dependent” – allows non-resident military dependents to apply for RTC permits; Loosens reciprocity language by changing “equal” to “reasonably similar”; New state residents can carry on their old reciprocal permits until their new permit is issued by state of KS; Removes 6 month waiting period for new KS residents; Removing the state prohibition on individuals with “diversions” from applying for RTC permits; Removes all state disqualifiers that are inconsistent with state firearms possession laws K.S.A 21-4204 and federal disqualifiers under 18 USC 922; RTC permit from recognized state will satisfy training requirement; Lower fees on initial permit cost; No fingerprint requirement for renewal; Establish specific limitations for prohibited places – only buildings, no parking lots; Lower penalties for fines for prohibited places violations.

Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Kansas, the House of Representatives concurring therein: That the State of Kansas hereby claims sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States over all powers not otherwise enumerated and granted to the federal government by the Constitution of the United States

Sponsored by the Committee on Aging and Long-term Care, Sen. Pilcher Cook, and dozens of Kansas State legislators, HB2182 enacts the Health Care Freedom Act. Signed into law by Gov. Sam Brownback, HB2182 codifies the individual right of Kansas residents to choose to purchase or refuse to purchase health insurance. The bill states the government is prohibited from interfering with a resident’s right to purchase or refuse to purchase the insurance. The bill states it is a resident’s right to enter into a private contract with health care providers for lawful health care services, and that the government is prohibited from interfering with this right. The bill allows a person or employer to pay directly for the services and establish a prohibition against penalizing or fining for doing so.